Which Coffee Machine is Best For Your Kitchen?
A high-end appliance can transform the way your family and you start the day. Which one is best for your kitchen?
For a vibrant, strong brew, go for the GE Cafe Speciality Grind and Brew. Its striking design makes it a beautiful centerpiece for your kitchen bar and those who love smart appliances will appreciate the capability to control the coffee maker using an app.
1. Cuisinart 12-Cup Pod coffee maker
While it lacks the ability to make espresso (or the latte art) as our top two choices but this Cuisinart model is an excellent option for those wanting to make pods or filter coffee without spending a fortune. It's user-friendly and affordable, and comes with a number of convenient options, such as a timed auto brew and "strong" setting that makes an extremely strong cup. It has removable reservoirs and reusable filters which makes it easy to clean.
The brushed stainless finish is timeless, and is a great addition to any kitchen. The control knob is a bit clunky, and it takes a while to be used to. Adjusting the timer was more like playing a game, rather than making use of an appliance. Those with bigger households will appreciate the huge capacity and programmable features, and those who prefer to drink smaller quantities can enjoy the ability to make only one cup at a time.
In terms of brewing quality the machine performed just as well as our top choices. The brewing cycle was fast and the machine had a thermal carafe which kept our coffee warm for over an hour. We did notice that it seemed to draw more grounds than other models, but we don't think this is a dealbreaker.
We love the look of this espresso maker for the prosumer that is available in a variety of eye-catching colors that would certainly stand out on a kitchen counter. It's more sophisticated than the less expensive Diletta Mio, and is ideal for those who make espresso as an interest or for those who find that coffee brewing plays an important part in their daily routine. It comes with a digital temperature control that regulates the temperature of the water to a specific degree, and a solid steam wand that connects to its own heating system to allow simultaneous steaming and making coffee.
The only downside to this model is that it's more expensive than its competitors however it's worth the extra cost for those who take their coffee seriously and are willing to invest some time into learning the art of espresso making. In our tests, it made espresso shots that were smooth and balanced with nuanced flavors, no ashyness or bitterness.
2. Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus is the most reliable machine to make espresso. It may appear to be a basic model however it packs a lot of features in a compact size. It makes it easy for novices to play around with, with default temperature settings that provide an easy extraction process right out of the box. It also comes with clear instructions on what grinder sizes work best with its dual-wall filter baskets. It lets users alter the length of time that the pre-infusion feature is able to dampen the coffee grounds before increasing the pressure. This allows for that the flow remains consistent and maintains the balance of flavor.
This model is one of the easiest to use due to its simple interface. The model does not come with an integrated grinder. You will need to purchase an espresso grinder separately.
The Bambino Plus's other advantages include its ability to automatically purge its steam wand when it's finished frothing milk and its three different milk texture settings. It also comes with a metal leveling tool and tamper, which helps you ensure a perfect shot every time. If you're looking to take your steaming and brewing skills to the next level, this machine also has automatic reminders to clean and descale.
While the Breville Bambino Plus is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to make high-quality espresso at home, it's the best for aspiring professional baristas and serious amateurs. Its pre-infusion function that uses low pressure ensures a balanced taste, and its 15-bar Italian pump provides a full creamy body. It's also extremely flexible with a water pressure setting that can be adjusted, as well as the capability to switch between a single-shot or double-shot volume with the click of a button. Its compact dimensions make it perfect for small kitchens. The machine is available in various colors but the sleek black finish is our top choice.
3. Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One
The Moccamaster Technivorm Cup-One uses the gold-standard pour-over method used to brew coffee. It's a more sustainable option than the standard 10-cup brewer since it uses less energy to operate and produces significantly fewer coffee grounds. If you're a dedicated barista at home this is an excellent machine to invest in. It's also a pleasure to watch the brewing unfold. The copper boiling element heats water quickly and maintains temperatures within the range of 196-205degF (91-96degC) to ensure optimal extraction. The cone-shaped brew container ensures that every inch of ground is soaked to ensure full flavor and aroma. The brew time for a single cup of coffee is only four minutes. This might not sound quick when compared to other single cup brewers, however, it's still quite quick by drip machine standards.
Like other Technivorm machines as well, the Cup-One is manufactured in the Netherlands and comes with an impressive five-year warranty. It is pricier than most automatic brewers but comes with the security of knowing that you'll be getting a dependable and reliable brewing system that will continue to make top-quality coffee for many years.
This is one of the most beautiful brewing machines on the market, especially when you opt for a stainless steel model. The brushed-finish is stunning and is a perfect match for any kitchen design. It is simple to use and clean. Just throw away the used filter and ground coffee, and rinse the brew basket following every use. It's important to note that this brewer can't make espresso or cold brew, that's why we don't list it as our top pick.
Similar to the Rancilio Silvia it's a stunning machine that looks stunning on display and is easy to operate. The only issue with this model is the water tank's large ridges, which can make it difficult to read in the morning. There are no markings for measuring ounces or cup sizes which makes it difficult to know how much water to use and how much in the basket. The quality of the brew is well over any minor inconveniences.
4. Delonghi Eletta Explore
The Delonghi Eletta Explore coffee maker is an extremely automated machine with lots of extras. It comes with two milk jugs (one for hot, the other for cold) as well as the travel mug, and an ice cube tray for drinks with ice. It also comes with a wide selection of hot and iced coffee recipes (more than 40 recipes in total). click for more comes with Wi-Fi and can be controlled using the Coffee Link app. Bean Adapt is its most impressive feature. It lets you test new espresso beans using the app. It can adjust the espresso settings in accordance with what it learns from your preferences and tastes.
The Eletta features a user-friendly interface that lets you select and save your preferred size of drink, as well as creating user profiles. It also has an integrated grinder that can produce different kinds of ground coffee. It's the highest priced machine in our list, however it's an excellent investment for those looking to make a variety of drinks including iced ones from a single device.
It's user-friendly and the display is clear and simple, but it does take a while to get used to the many steps involved in making an espresso and other coffees. We recommend this machine only if the goal is to make a large number of espressos and you're willing to put in some effort to make it work.
The only issues we could find with this machine were that it took longer to heat up compared to other models and that the water tank does not have markings for ounces or cups. These are minor issues and the coffee produced by this machine was very excellent, with a great flavor and texture, especially in the espresso. It's also extremely quiet when the grinder is running and when making coffee. This is the quietest super-automatic machine we've ever tested. It's a great benefit for those who live in apartments. You can also dispense your coffee directly into a cup to go by using the machine's to-go feature which can be very useful on rushed mornings.
